Inhabitat reader Nadia Gilles sent us a few images of projects that have been constructed using an amazing eco-friendly building system - SIREWALL - and we're excited to share them with you. SIREWALL is a high performance rammed earth building system that makes earth architecture a viable alternative to other less eco-friendly construction methods. In 2008 the World Architectural Festival awarded a category prize to the Nk’Mip Desert Culture Centre in Canada, which was built entirely out of this incredible material. More details after the jump, along with a fascinating video produced by SIREWALL that depicts the environmental impact of building an ordinary home.

SIREWALL homes and buildings are constructed with a mix of local soils strengthened with rebar and a small amount of cement. This mix then wraps around approximately 4 inches of rigid insulation to create walls between 18 to 24 inches thick. Having this much insulation ensures that these buildings are extremely energy efficient, keeping homes cool in the summer and warm in the winter. They are erosion resistant, have a low risk of efflorescence, and are easily scaled for large projects.

Built to meet even the most stringent building standards, SIREWALLs are also exceptionally durable in all kinds of weather. According to the company literature, a building constructed out of this superior material can last thousands of years, virtually unaffected, without maintenance – even as its surroundings undergo constant change. And if that isn’t enough to convince you, this product is very flexible and can be customized to suit different projects.

It is not just the insulation, which has an R-value of 20-25, or the superior detailing that eliminates the thermal bridging associated with conventional buildings, which results in the high performance of an stabilized-insulated rammed earth building. The interstitial insulation creates a high mass interior that stores heat exceedingly well. This results in a naturally "warm in winter" and "cool in summer" structure no matter how severe the climate. These walls are healthy, durable, engineered for earthquakes, extremely beautiful and will actually save significant money in reduced energy consumption. The North American Rammed Earth Builders Association (NAREBA.org), a leader in rammed earth research, is a nonprofit committed to assisting design professionals and others interested in learning more about the many advantages of modern rammed earth buildings. This is an ancient and sustainable way of building that has been crafted to meet the requirements of our modern construction and energy codes.